New Delhi: A Delhi court Wednesday framed defamation charge against journalist Priya Ramani in a case filed by ex-Union minister MJ Akbar after she levelled allegations of sexual misconduct against him.
Ramani, who appeared before Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Samar Vishal, however, pleaded not guilty and claimed trial.
Akbar, who resigned as Union Minister October 17 last year, filed a private criminal defamation complaint against Ramani after his name cropped up on social media as the #MeToo campaign raged on in India. Ramani accused Akbar of sexual misconduct, a charge denied by him.
The court listed the matter for hearing on May 4 and also granted permanent exemption to Ramani from personal appearance.
Akbar’s legal team had earlier told the court that the charges made by Ramani were ‘false, baseless and wild’ and it had damage his reputation and tarnished his image to a great extent. Ramani on the other hand is confident that truth will prevail. She has time and again tweeted that the time has come to tell her side of the story.
Akbar had also earlier insisted that theirs was a consensual affair. However, Ramani had then said a relation ‘based on coercion and abuse of power’ cannot be called a consensual affair.
Earlier Ramani had obtained bail in the last hearing of the case February 25, this year. It was her first appearance in court after being summoned.
